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A. J. MOXHAM. ELEOTRIG CONTACT.

No. 587,594. Patented Aug. 3,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. MOXIIAM, OF LORAIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHNSON COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC CONTACT.

SPECIFIGATION fOrming part of Letters Patent No. 587,594, dated August3, 1897.

Application filed January 28, 1897. Serial No. 621,035. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. MoxHAu, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Lorain, Lorain county, Ohio, have invented'certainnew and useful Improvements in Electric Contacts, of which the followingis a specification.

In many systems of electricpropulsion contact-boxes or non-continuousrails have their contact portions exposed, but not electrically live,except when the moving vehicle is over the exposed contact.

In case of failure of any of the apparatus intended to render thecontact no longer electrically live after the passage of the vehicle theexposed contact would become a source of danger, as a man or beaststepping thereon would receive an electric shock of more or lessintensity.

The object of my invention is to remove as much as possible of thisdanger; and to this end the invention consists in the provision ofcontacts insulated from other exposed metallic portions of the operatingdevices and the provision of surfaces adapted to prevent the passer fromstepping upon the contacts.

In the drawings my invention is shown in use upon a particular type ofcontact-box adapted for use with electric railways.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the contact-box, andFig. 2 is a crosssection thereof with the lower portion broken away.

The sealed vessel A contains the switching mechanism. The top of thisvessel is made of conducting material and is electrically connected tothe exposed contact B.

0 represents suitable insulation, as molded mica, which I place betweenB and the member D, which in this type ofbox is made of a material, suchas manganese steel, having high electrical conductivity but lowmagnetioal conductivity.

E and E are the sides of the box and are made of material having highmagnetical conductivity.

(Z and d are projections cast upon the member D and rising above the topof the contact B, and serve to protect the foot of the passer fromtouching the said contact.

Obviously the design or construction here shown may be varied in manyways to suit the particular electric system with which my invention maybe used. I do not, therefore, limit myself to these exact details.

What I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric contact-box, a metallic cover-plate having aperforation and upward projections on each side thereof, in combinationwith the contact secured in said perforation but insulated from saidprojections.

2. In'an electric contact-box cover, in combination, magnetizable sidemembers, a nonmagnetizable member securing said sides together andhaving upward projections, and a contact portion between, but insulatedfrom, said upward projections.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

. ARTHUR J. MOXHAM.

WVitnesses:

A. J. BRYAN, D. BRYAN.

